Tohatsu 9.8HP | MFS9.8BEFS

The Tohatsu 9.8HP MFS9.8BEFS runs a 15-inch shaft, electric start with a manual backup, and comes in around 88 lbs. It is the short-shaft answer for boats with a lower transom, built on the same 209 cc, two-cylinder four-stroke platform as the rest of this family.

Matching shaft to transom

A 15-inch shaft keeps the propeller at the right depth on boats with a shorter transom than a long-shaft motor would suit. If you're unsure which length your boat needs, measure from the transom's top edge straight down to the waterline rather than guessing from the boat's overall size; shaft length is not something you can adjust after the motor is mounted, so it pays to get it right before ordering. Full throttle on this engine falls between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm.

Starting and equipment

Electric start is backed by a charging system and a retained manual pull-start, so a flat battery doesn't strand you out on the water. Inside the crate: the propeller, 3.1-gallon tank with fuel line, a lanyard-style cutoff switch, a tool kit and parts, and an owner's manual. A 5-year Tohatsu warranty applies on top of that equipment.

Is there a backup start method? Yes, a manual pull-start is retained alongside electric start.

What's the displacement? 209 cc across two cylinders.